Tray manufacture



July s. l1924.

w. E. HALLy .TRAY MANUFACTURE' Filed March 19. 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet l IN' VNI'UR July 8 1924.

w. E.- HALL TRAY MANUFACTURE Filed March 19 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INvi-:N rm

w. E. HALL TRAY MANUFACTURE July 8 1924.,

Filed Marh 19.

1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 AT1-EF? NSY Mya, 1924.l 1,500,125

- w. E. HALL.

TRAY MANUFACTURE Filed aa-rch 19. 1923 `@Smeets-Sheen 4 j 59 Fr' m 49 I [Tb-.5 A f7 l u 6 L :.geEE-:i15111. M

. INVENIgf- Patented ,lilly S, 1224.

UNHT@ STATES PATENT @FFHCCFM WILLEM 1E. L, 0F MONROE, MICHIGAN, SSXGNOR TO FRED M. LNGNECKER, @E DELTA, OHIO.

TRAY MANUFACTURE.

Application filed March 19, 1923. Serial No. 626,016.

To all whom t may concerti.'

Be it known that l, llILLiAM F. HALL,

a citizen of the United States of America,

residing at Monroe, Monroe County, Michigan, have invented new and useful Tray Manufactures, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the manufacture of articles out of sheet stock. l

This invention has utility when incorporated `for the production of food trays or paper dishes from liber board, straw board or paper, say as supplied in continuous sheets.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a machine for carrying' out the invention herein, parts being broken away;

Fi 2 is a 'front elevation, from the left of Fig. 1, parts being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the top Ablank forming die;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the bottom blank forming die;

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the stage of the folding of the out blank, after the parts have come to the position in Fi 2, with the cut blank in position lor olding to commence;

Fig. 6 is a detail view as the folding operation is started;

Fig. 7 is a detail View of the anvil operating device for elinching the wire staples in the folded dish ends;

Fig. 8 is a detail view, at right angles to the showing in Fig. 6, showing the next stage of the folding operation thereafter;

Fig. 9 is a detail view of the fully folded dish or tray at the final stage of the folding and in position in the folding dies; l

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a completed tray;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a blank from which the tray is formed;

Fig. 12 is a plan View of the sheet feeding device;

Fig. 13 is a section on the line X111- Xlll, Fig. 12; and

Fig. 14 is a perspective view 'of the stock 5o engaging jaw of the eedin device.

A main base 1 is provide upon which is mounted brackets 2, 3 (Fi 2), opstanding to carry main driving s att 4. A continuously running belt 5 passes about pulley 6 loosely mounted on the shaft 4. By pulling handle 7 rod 8 therefrom to lever 9 is e ective to pull in clutch. 10 for counecting the pulley 6 to the shaft 4.

Stool: supply.

Mounted on the shaft 4 adjacent the pulley 6 is small pulley 11 from which extends belt 12 to'pulley 13 fast on shaft 14 carried by upright l5, adjacent a second upright 16. The upright 16 carries shaft 1T upon which is su ported a roll 18 of strip material, say of ber board 19.

@n the shaft 14 is roll 20, the lower side of which extends into basin 21 in which is paratline 22 maintained liquid by heating coil 23. Opposing this driving roll 20 which is operating in the paraihne bat-i1, is upper follower roll 24, effective for gripping the reach 19 of the sheet stock as drawn from the supply roll 18.

Steam line 25 which has valve 26 controlling the operation of the heating co 23, has a branch line 27 with valve 28 to jets 29, disposed in proximity to the reach 19 between the supply roll 18 and-the waxing rolls, which may be adjusted for moistening or steaming the stock, should such be brittle. rlhis moistening is adjusted so that the folding or the dish or tray may not tend to fracture the stock, and is a feature incidental to increased speed of operation. in the putting out of articles of superior character.

Feeding cleoz'oe.

Strip 19 as passing from the paraiine rolls 20, 24, has wax coatin 30 on its lower side. 'llhe driving or fee supply rate is such through the rolls 20, 24, as driven by the belt 12 that there is a slack or loop of the sheet stock between the upright 15 and table 31.

The shaft 4 is provided with pinion 4 in mesh with pinion 4 on shaft 4 which extends through main frame 32 of the blanking and folding machine on the base 1. Fast on the shaft 4 adjacent the side of the frame 32 remote from the pulley 6, is arm 33, having slot 34 in which is adjustably fixed wrist pin 35. From this wrist pin 35 extends link 36 to upwardly extending lever 37 mounted on horizontal shat 38 parallel to the shaft 4 and in the upper portion of the frame 32. This lever 37 has intermediate slot 39 in Vwhich pivot pin 40 is adjustableto different positions in carrying link 41 horizontally extending rearwardly to pivot pin 42 adjustable to different fixed positions in slot 43 of upstanding lever 44 having lower fulcrum 45 mounted by the frame 32.

This lever 44 is rigidly connected through its fulcrum shaft 45 with lever 46 upon the opposite side of the frame 32 to extend above the plane of the table 31. Flach of these levers 44, 46, has a slot 47 n'ear its upper free end, along which is adjusted transverse shaft 48. Adjacent each side of the table 31, the Shaft 48 has a loose arm 49 (Fig. 12), which arms are held spaced apart by collars 50, as held by set screws 51 fast with `the shaft 48. Each of these arms 48 is inclined downwardly to have its free end carry a roller 52 riding along track 53 on each side of the table 31. In the arc throws or swinging of the levers 44, 46, these rollers 52 are held in contact with the tracks 52. To this end the shaft 48 has central pin 54 about which is looped central portion of helical torsion spring 55 having free ends 56 extending to shaft 57 carrying the rollers 52. This shaft 57 is accordingly held to ride at a constant distance from the table 31. Loosely mounted on this shaft 57 and extending away from the shaft 48 is an arm, claw or engaging jaw 58. Fixed on the shaft 57 is a collar 58 from which extends torsion helical spring 59 to this claw 58 for yieldably holding or throwing this claw downward toward the table 31.

This jaw (Figs. 13, 14) 58, has rounded free end 60 which will tend to prevent the strip sheet stock 19 from buckling or rolling. The under side of this arm or jaw 58 has de pending lugs 61, 62. A set screw 63 may engage with this lug 62 for mounting .engager 64, shown as having serrations or teeth on each of 'the four sides thereof. There is thus a convenient means for resetting this tool to expose a different side, as one becomes dulled in engaging the stock, for definite feed distance pulls thereof across the table 31 to supply the stock, as paraned on the lower side, to the blanker.

The Zan/leer.

The frame 32, above the shaft 4, carries downwardly.. facing plate 65 as anchored in position by bolts 66 engaging the frame 32. This plate 65, on its lower side has attached thereto upper or tray outside blanking die` 67 (Fig. 3). This die 67 has scoring projecting edges. or knife portions 68. lin the pattern of the blanker for oblong trays with continuous side wall, it is preferred herein to have this member 67 of the blanking die pair have seats to oppose scoring determining edges, as well as blank cutting out knives of the opposing die. The disk or tray bottom may be determined by sides 69 and ends 70, to give it a rectangular form. Approximating the direction of the sides 69 extended, or slightly diverging from the scoring edges 68 are seats or grooves 71 from the corners produced by the grooves .69, 70. Diverging from the groove 71 and on the opposite side thereof from the scoring edge 68, is groove 72. The side of the die 67 toward the oncoming strip 19 of stock, has a groove 73 extending beyond the grooves 72 to diverging grooves 74. The opposite corners of this die carry knives 75.

Opposing this fixed blanker die 67 is a movable blanker die. 4 just outside the frame 32 and on each side thereof, is an eccentric 76, for operating upwardly extending connecting rod 77 to crosshead 78 movable up and down in guides 79 in the frame 32 and carrying on its upper side blanking die 80 to act upon sheet stock as passing thereover, by forcing such stock against the blanking die 67. This die 80 has grooves 81, 88, opposing the scoring blades or edges 68, 75, and has scoring edges 82, 83, 84, 85, opposing the grooves or seats 69, 70, 71, 72. The only cutting is edected by knives 86, 87, opposin the grooves 73, 74. Spring pins 89 in the lanking dies 67, 80 (Figs. 3, 4), as acting upon paper as being blanked from a strip, loosen such paper or stock from the die as thefdies separate after having come together to effect theV scoring and cutting operations. The blank is thus kept from being packed into either die. The feeding device, as delicately and accurately adjusted in its feeding drive distance, causes the strip paper stock as coming to the blanking die to force the preceding portion or blank 90 past the blanking dies to the position for folding. At this position for folding, the knives 86, 87, effect final severing of the blank.

The blank.

The blank 90 (Fig. 11) on its'lower or tray interior side, has tray bottom 91 bound-l Mounted on the shaft ably has short edge 101 as an extension of tray side upper edge 102 to pass the scorings 95.

The folder.

recense this member carries socket or tray exterior forming folder member 108. lin the upper portion of the member 105 is cornpression spring 109, normally thrusting stem downward, to hold U-'shaped auxiliary folder member 111 at its lower end out of seat 112 in the upper main folder member 108.

.The drive for the folder is from the main drive shaft 4 by way of the gear 4 in mesh with gear 113 on shaft 114, carried by brackets 115, 116, 117, on the base 1', to protrude through the frame 32, parallel with the shaft 4'. llntermediate the bearings provided by the brackets 116, 117, this shaft 114 has crank 118, from which upwardly extends connecting rod 119 with spring box 107 to yieldably reciprocate vertically member 120 in guide 121, carried by the main frame 32.

The upper end of this member 120 carries tray interior forming folder member 122, to be upwardly thrust into the pocket or socket member 108, to force the auxiliary folder member 111 into the seat A112.

1n the folding operation, the loose or auxiliary folder member 111 engages the outer sides of the tongues 98 to bend such inward, the feeding device having thrust the blank 90 into position between the folder members with its front edge against stops 123 fixed with the frame 32, and said blankA held from falling by the member 122. I K As the tongues 98 are folded inward, there is a tendency for the sides to bow outward which is assisted by starting to fold the sides before the tongue, and this is further controlled as the tray sides ride into straight portions 124 (Fig. 8) of the upper folder member 108, and then are shaped by being thrust against tapered side wall forming walls 125 of the high wall pocket member 108 of the folder. The directing action for the tongues 98, shapes the ends for folds at the scorings for the folds 99 to be positioned back of the tongues 98 in the completely folded tray or dish.

Wre feed device.

The holding of the folded dish into shape is herein eected by stapling or fastening by wire. Such wire staples are provided one at each end -of the completed dish. Extendingforwardly from the frame 32 and approximately at the plane of the table 31, is a pair of arms 126, carrying at their free ends upstanding pins 127. 0n each pin 12'! is a spool 128 for a coil 129 of wire from which extends reach of wire 130 to pass through guide duct 131 between feed rolls 132, 133. The lower feed rolls 132 are on shaft 134, parallel to shaft 135 carrying the feed rolls 133. Adjusting devices 136. determine the gripping action of the upper rolls upon the wire as passing over the lower rolls. Auxiliary bracket 137 mounts these wire feed elements fixed with the frame 32, through plate 138 carried by the upper cross frame 104.

The drive for this wire supply or feed is from the shaft 114, which at its end remote from the gear 113 has slotted arm 139 (Figs. 1, 2) as a crank for adjustable wrist pin 140 to upwardly extending connecting rod 141 engaglng reciprocable bar 142 slidable in guides 143, 144, carried by the frame 32, and frame extension 103. rfhis bar 142 has rack 145 in mesh with pinion 146 on the shaft 134 (Fig. 1). Adjustments at the wristpin 140 determine the feed steps in progressing the wire 130 to the stapling devices.

Staplz'ng devices.

Mounted on the shaft 114 outside the bearings 116, 117 (Fig. 2) is a pair of eccentrics 147. From each eccentric 147 upwardly extends connecting rod 148 to lever 149 having after portion fixed for pivoting at fulcrum 150 mounted in the frame 32. rllhe forward free end of earch of these levers 149 has upwardly extending therefrom connecting rod 151 to vertically reciprocate 'multiple cam member 152 in guide 153 of the frame 32. These cams are timed to reciprocate in cutting od the wire 130 into len hs to form staples, bend such staples, an thrust such from the outside through the folds 99 and the tongue 98. ll'he staple is wide enough to catch the two folds at each end.

The crank 118 of the shaft 114, has a cam 154, ooacting upon the upper portion of the crank throw with rod 155 in the member 120 (Fig. 7), to move such rod 155 upward, and thereby force outward staple clinching plungers 156, in completing the dish forming operations. lln the continuation of the machine operations, as the folder 122 descends, the spring 109, acts upon the auxiliary folder member 111 to thrust the formed dish out of the socket of the member 108. As the folder 122 descends fixed pin 157 catches the back edge of the dish, and with the folder 122 continuing its descent, the dish is tilted od the folder and falls upon chute 158, there to be taken by conveyor 159 for packing into cartons, or such other disposition as may be desired. rllhis conveyor is driven by belt 160 from the shaft 114,

r1`he dish or food tray 161 as completed has its side walls continuous, and the assembly or form is maintained by staples 162 at each end to engage the pair of outer folds and the inner tongue. The inner ends of the staples 162 are clinched or bent back into the stock of this water-proofed, or paraliine coating lined food tray. The straight lines of the blank outer contour determine a definite shape, so that these taper walled trays may snugly nest for compact packing, and retention of shape. ln the forcing of the trays into nesting relation, there is mutual reinael , the maximum dimension of the blank 90. lf

such stock be pliable, it is not, or'may not be necessary to temper it by the steam before passing it in continuous travel between the rolls 20, 24, to have the lower roll 2O apply a coating of paraffine wax to the lower side thereof, thereby to waterproof the stock on the side which is to form the dish interior.

The loop in the strip 19 between the waxing rolls and the blanking and folding ma chine unit is to permit the intermittent feeding of the stock to the blanker without placing a strain upon the stock as passing the waxing rolls. As the machine operates continuously, the levers 44, 46, rock to and fro, to shift the carrier along the tracks 52, in efecting intermittent thrusting of the sheet stock over the table 31 upon the lower blanking die 80. During the recover travel of the carrier, this die 80 movesupward a slight distance against the fixed upper blanking die 67 to elect shearing od and complete scoring of a section of the strip stockin forming blank 90 and rejecting small triangular marginal portions as cut from the stock by the knives 87. rllhe succeeding cycle of operation of the machine, causes the stock as thrust over the blanking dies by the feeder, to engage the blank 90 as loosened from the blanking dies by the spring pins 89, and

shift such blank 90 into position over the lower folder member 122, which die member 122 is traveling upwardly and thrusts the blank 90 as it is finally cut free oie the strip into the socket of the upper or opposing folding die member 108, edecting the bending inward of the tongues 98 after straightening and initiating folding of the tray sides, locating the iolds 99 against the outer sides of the tongue, and then stapling by a single staple the two folds 99 at one end with the tongue 98 at such end of the tray, and clinching the staple ends into the tray stock on the tray tongue inner side. As the plunger folder member 122 descends, the tray 161 is toppled out upon chute 158, to be carried away from the machine by conveyor 159.

rllhe features of tray form, and stock supply and feeding thereof, together with the manner oi scoring and folding, permit of accurate registry throughout positively at high speeds of operation, with the turning out et trays in sites of one half pound to anodine ve pound containers at rates from 120 to 150 per minute. These features are accordingly inter-related features of great value in quantity production hereunder.

What is claimed and it is desired to secure by Letters Patent is zy 1. rlhe method oi producing a tray from continuous sheet stock, including the defining of a form, and the scoring of the form in a line on one side of the stock, and simultaneously scoring the form in a line on the opposite side of said stock, said lines in the direction of their extent diverging from each other.

2. The method of producing a continuous side wall tray from sheet stock, including the scorin of a form for a olygonal bottom and t ree lines from eac corner of said bottom, one of said score lines from each corner extending toward a score line from an adjacent corner and being on the opposite side of said sheet stock from the remaining score line from such corner.

3. The method of producing a tray from sheet stock, including the simultaneous scoring of the stock in a continuous line for a form on one side for a fold one way and scoring in a diiierent continuous line on thel opposite side for a fold the other way, and e ecting said foldings in said opposite directions on said lines to produce at one line a corner inside the tray and at the other line -a corner outside the tra tom, and from each 4corner of said bottom and on the same side forming one scoring to approximate a line with said bottom scoring, and forming a second scoring to diverge therefroni, and on the other side of said sheet which is to be the tray exterior forming a third scoring from each corner diver-ging from the second scoring whereb the side of the sheet at the scorings are ol ed toward the respective scorings in forming at each scoring a re-entrant angle.

6. The method of producing a continuous side wall tray having general rectangular 1cran, with corners beyond which the outer edge of the tray sides extend, embodying eecting a rectangular scoring of a sheet for denin on the tray interior the tray bottom, a ditionally forming a iirst scorin diverging from each corner away from sai bottom scoring direction at said respective anodine two thereof to spaced points along a common outer edge and as to an additional two thereof to spaced points along an opposite outer ed e, and on the opposite or tray exterior si e of said sheets forming a scoring to each corner of said bottom, these outside Y scorings each being from a margin of the tray and extending toward each other in pairs to dene inner ton ues for the tray.

7. A pair of scoring dies for defining opposite folding lines for sheet material, one of each dies having ribs and grooves and the other die having grooves opposing said ribs of the one and ribs opposing the grooves of said one, each of said ribs defining an inside corner folding line, for the one die upon one side and for the other die upon the opposite side of the material as acted upon by the dies, the line of direction of grooves on one die 'diverging from the line of direction of grooves on the o posing die.

8. A tray mac ine die for a continuous side Wall tra embodying scoring ribs for tray defining bottom and corner inside folding lines, and an opposing die having scoring ribs for tray tongue defining lines foldable as a re-entrant corner to overlap said tongues inside the tray toward the tray corners.

In Witness whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIAM E. HALL. 

